Dispenser



R. P. EAGLES Feb. 9, 1965 DISPENSER Filed Feb. 5, 1964 INVENTOR ROB5-` l? EAGLES ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,168,913 JESPENSER Robert l. Eagles, 5915 Warwick Road, Richmond, Va. Filed Feb. 3, i964, Ser.. No. Cfr-@33M 4 Claims. (Cl. 141-23) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensers, particularly those adapted to dispense medicines in measured quantities.

In the dispensing of liquid medicines, over dosages or under dosages are frequently administered because of the difficulty of making accurate measurements except with relatively expensive apparatus, the cost of which is prohibitive for general use. Thus, medicine is frequently wasted and optimum results are not achieved from the medicine. Exact measurements are of particular importance in the case of pediatrics where slight variations from recommended dosages may be critical.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser which permits the `user to withdraw a predetermined amount of liquid from a container and thereafter dispense such liquid.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide -a novel dispenser for liquids yadapted to fit as a sealing closure on the liquid container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a novel dispensing device which is effective to dispense liquid accurately without spilling.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the appended claims and following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FlGURE 1 is `a vertical cross-section through a dispenser of the present invention shown positioned in a container;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the dispenser of the present invention removed from the container;

FIGURE 3 is a central vertical section view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and is therefore substantially the same as FIGURE l except that the dispenser operating mechanism is shown in a different position; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the dispenser device of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, container 2 which is formed of glass or transparent plastic is of essentially conventional configuration. The dispenser indicated generally as 4 includes a hollow plug 6, an annular threaded ange 8 adapted to be installed on the neck section i@ of container 2, a cap head section 12 and a syringe indicated generally as t4 connected to plug 6 by a tight friction fit, glue, or other suitable means. The syringe comprises a transparent cylinder 16 having a reduced lower end i7, a piston 18, and a piston carrying crosshead 2i) which may be a rectangular piece of plastic or other suitable material connected to piston 18. An operating member 22 centrally pivoted on pin 24 carried by head section 12, is located in a slot cut in the head section. A projection 26 of suitable configuration is preferably integrally formed with the operating member to facilitate manual operation of the latter.

A narrow slot 2S cut in the body of member 22, receives one end of 4a connecting rod 30 pivotally connected to member 22 by pin 32 and to crosshead 20 by pin 34.

As shown in FIGURE 3, piston i8 is at its lowest point in cylinder 16, and connecting rod Sil and pin 32 are in an over-center position, thereby preventing displacement of the piston until postive filling actuation is effected.

Patented Feb. 9, i965 ice but, of course, is not essential to the invention.

Piston i8 has a sub-piston 36 attached substantially in the center thereof and adapted to extend into reduced portioni? of cylinder 16 yas shown in FIGURE 3. As it may be desirable to dispense only drops of a medicine, the reduced portion i7 enables the dispenser operator to withdraw very accurately only one or more drops of the liquid in container 2, the number of drops being shown by the graduated marks 4t? which also extend up onto the main cylinder ld. Graduation 42 are also provided on cap head section l2 along opposite edges of slot 28 to facilitate withdrawal of liquids under conditions Where the graduations it? cannot be readily observed,

In operation, piston 13 is normally in the position shown in FIGURE 3 in place in container 2. To measure the amount of liquid desired to be dispensed, it is merely necessary to move operator 22 to obtain the desired reading on graduations 4@ and 42. If there is sufficient liquid in the container the dispenser is preferably Unthreaded from the container before the operator 22 is moved to measure the required dosage.

The liquid may be dispersed by returning the operator 22 to the position of FIGURE 3.

With the exception of rod 3d and the various pins in the dispenser, all parts are preferably plastic, eg., polypropylene. Rod 3i? and the pivot pins may also be plastic but are preferably light metal, eg., aluminum.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning `and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid dispenser comprising a cap portion adapted to be detachably secured to a container for said fluid, a transparent receptacle carried by said cap and adapted to project toward the bottom of said container, a piston slidably received in said container, an operator movably carried by said cap, and means connecting said operator to said piston whereby upon movement of said operator said piston `is displaced to introduce or expel measured amounts of said fluid from said receptacle.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle has a relatively large diameter section for reception of said piston and a relatively reduced diameter section beyond said piston to facilitate the introduction of small amounts of said liquid into said receptacle.

3. The fluid dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said cap portion has a transverse slot o pen to the exterior thereof and said operator comprises a member of substantially cylindrical cross-section, a major portion of which is received in said slot.

4. The dispenser according to claim 3 where the means connecting said operator and said piston comprises a rigid link pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said operator and said piston respectively to provide a positive drive connection between said operator and said piston in both directions.

No references cited.

LOUIS l. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLUID DISPENSER COMPRISING A CAP PORTION ADAPTED TO BE DETACHABLY SECURED TO A CONTAINER FOR SAID FLUID, A TRANSPARENT RECEPTACLE CARRIED BY SAID CAP AND ADAPTED TO PROJECT TOWARD THE BOTTOMOF SAID CONTAINER, A PISTON SLIDABLY RECEIVED INSAID CONTAINER, AN OPERATOR MOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID CAP,AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID OPERATOR TO SAID PISTON WHEREBY UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATOR SAID PISTONIS DISPLACED TO INTRODUCE OR EXPEL MEASURED AMOUNTS OF SAID FLUID FROM SID RECEPTACLE. 